Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (patriciaofoz @ Apr 26 2008, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (densusan @ Apr 26 2008, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Kath will second me on this one.........I applied for both EAD and Advance Parole and all I can say is that it was a waste of money! They approved my AOS and I never heard anymore about the the other applications but in saying that I guess it depends on how quick you are approved and peace of mind I guess. Hi Susan Hmm...waste of money? I think the fee of $1010 we already need to pay for AOS, the Advance Parole is already included within it. I'm not sure if we're going to apply now...and no, unfortunately the trip in December is not to Australia. It's to the Philippines where we'll be doing our non-quickie wedding. Best thing, all the important family and friends will be joining us so it'll be like going home to Adelaide. Yeah, we get to do another wedding all over again That's why it's imperative I get to leave the country by then, or else they'll be a wedding without me So fingers crossed... All the best, everyone! Hi Patricia, YEP......you are correct about the advance parole and EAD when you apply for AOS being included in the fee.....sorry. When I did it they were 3 seperate applications and 3 seperate fees and I never heard anything back that's why the comment about it being a waste of money because my AOS was approved very quickly. Maybe they found that this was happening on a regular basis and decide to include it all in one application the AOS. I'm pretty sure that Kath had the same thing happen as me but don't quot me on that. I've just booked to go back to Australia in August and am really excited already. Wanted to beat some of the inevitable airfare rises and Qantas have quite good specials until the end of this month. Hi Hednjimmy, You will receive a list of the doctors closest to you but as far as I know you are unable to see your regular doctor for this medical exam. I had some of my required immunizations done with my regular doctor and then the USCIS approved doctor transferred te details to the correct forms. Yes you will get a checklist when you get the packet and as for the police check I wouldn't get it too far in advance because they are only good for a certain amount of time. Sorry I am not sure how long but someone on here is sure to know. Goodluck with the journey Hi to everyone else......hope everyone here in the USA and back in Australia are doing well. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-04-28 15:41:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi Kath, Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying the spring weather. Won't be long and you will be doing your I-751 soon and if your lucky it will be transfered to CSC because it seems they are approving in 3 to 4 months......LUCKY them! I haven't heard anything and looking at the timelines for VSC they are only processing March 2007, so it could be quite a wait buts what new. Hi Patricia, First of all congrats on your recent marriage! I think we all hear you about missing family and friends.......it can be really tough sometimes. Poor Kath hasn't been back at all yet and I can only imagine how much she is wanting to go back for a visit. Hugs Kath. I was lucky enough to go back last March but feels like forever ago! Check a few timelines and see how others from the service centre you are doing your AOS at are going and it should give you a rough idea of how long it will take to get your green card. I guess you are planning a trip back to Adelaide in December? I'm looking at flights at the moment to go back to Adelaide in August because I have my NOA1 extension letter now (removal of conditions), so I'm good to go. Kath will second me on this one.........I applied for both EAD and Advance Parole and all I can say is that it was a waste of money! They approved my AOS and I never heard anymore about the the other applications but in saying that I guess it depends on how quick you are approved and peace of mind I guess. Hi to everyone else. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-04-25 14:21:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	HD, Thanks for the congrats. In answer to your question about the ten year greencard..........yes that is what they will send me and the journey will be over Katz I hope the interview in Sydney went well and look forward to hearing how you went. Sharyna, Hope you hear something soon. We had to go for an interview in Buffalo NY when I did the AOS and it was a couple of weeks I think before I received my card in the mail but it all seems such a longtime ago. Check my timeline it should be there. Jayde I will post in here when I hear more on my removing conditions but I think it will be another 5 or 6 months before I hear anymore. When does your greencard expire? If it expires before you travel back to Brisbane then you need to take your expired card and the NOA1 with you to be able to re-enter the USA but you are probably already aware of that. Lucky you going back for a holiday...............have fun! Hope everyone else is doing well, SUSAN	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-03-25 14:31:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (herself @ Mar 20 2008, 12:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi all- My sweetie will be here in May, fingers crossed. He is just waiting for the police check to come back before he schedules his interview. My question is this: Are there any "little" things that you have missed that I can get to make him feel more at home once he's here? (or big things, too, any input is welcome) Thank you! A nice thing to get would be a phone-card so he is able to call family in Australia. I use Penny Talk but there are plenty of others out there.....hope this is of some help. Bet you can't wait for May! Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-03-25 14:14:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hey Patricia, Glad to hear all the wedding plans are going well and will keep my fingers crossed for you on the weather! Hopefully in 2 weeks time the sun will be shining for you I miss Adelaide too..........might be a small city but it's a great place!!!!	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-03-18 16:35:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	HD so sorry to hear you had such a rotten time getting to the USA but I bet you're smiling now and very happy the journey is over.Enjoy finally being with your husband and enjoy that beautiful weather. I have never heard of anyone having to show their x-rays..........did they give you a reason as to why they needed them? Goodluck with the interview Katz but you will be fine! Have a wonderful day in Sydney and enjoy the views from the top of the tower. Went for biometrics last friday for removal of condtions......2 hour drive for ten minutes Oh well! Going by the vermont timelines it should be about 6 months before I hear anymore about it Have a very Happy Easter everyone Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-03-18 16:32:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi HD, On the luggage thing.......... all I can think of is the guys that work at the airport (the ones that you see hanging out at the luggage carousels), maybe just maybe might be able to help you out......goodluck. Hope your enjoying your time left in Australia with family and friends. I had a look at the DMV website for Hawaii and couldn't find any clear answers but I'm sure hubby is right and your aussie DL will be fine for a while. I know there are so many things to think of and our brain gets a little overloaded at times.....relax for now and wait until you are there to get your answer. Take care, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-03-06 19:00:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi Patricia, Great news about the wedding dress............bet your soooo excited As to your question about the marriage license.........I am pretty sure you don't need a ssn, just your passport and birth certificate but you should be able to find any answers you need on the related website. Don't forget to order marriage certificates so you have them for your AOS. As for your drivers license I wouldn't worry about that until after the wedding because you should be ok with your Australian DL until your permanent residency is approved. I too had to do a written test, 5 hour new drivers course, LOL (with a bunch of teenagers) and the practical test for my NY state DL. It really depends on how they define residency but I'm pretty sure the residency time-frame doesn't come into play until your greencard is approved (don't quote me on this I could be wrong) because it's quite a while ago for me. Every state is a little different, so just check the Missouri DMV website and hopefully that may have the correct answer. Vylex you are right about not being in exile, after all Australia is just a plane trip away. I think some of us get more home-sick than others but mostly it's all good because you finally get to be with the one you love. It's a different experience for everyone but once you get out and about it's much easier. I was lucky enough to go back to Australia last year for the birth of my second grand-son and had a wonderful time with family & friends but ultimately for me here is home with my hubby. Hey Kath, We had an ice-storm last night.....YUCK.......and now it's snowing again. How bout you did you get the ice? OH nearly forgot, today in the mail I received my biometrics appointment (14th., March'08) for removal of conditions......WOW! Can't believe how quick their responses have been and hope the approval comes quick too. Then it will be over with USCIS for me.......YAY	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-03-05 15:44:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi Kath, Thanks for the woooooo hooooooo! Interesting you received a reply regarding change of address...hmmmmmmm. I mailed the change of address (for hubby) with my I-751 but haven't had anything back about that. Oh well the NOA1 had the correct address, so I guess that's all that counts. Hi HD, Thanks for your info about email notifications.....now I have a receipt number I will do that. Enjoy your last 2 weeks in Australia. It is a time full of mixed emotions, excitement about being with your partner, sadness at leaving family and friends behind and a really weird feeling when you get on the plane and wonder when you will be visiting Australia again. Very emotionally draining but you will be fine and everyone on here understands all the things you are going through right now. Patricia hope you have found the perfect wedding dress ..............sure you will, lotsa luck. Take care everyone, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-03-03 15:28:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Received in the mail today NOA1 on I-751 application. "Your conditional resident status is extended for a period of one year. During the one year extension you are authorise employment and travel" My greencard doesn't expire until May 4th., but I am guessing the extension starts from the date of NOA1 which is 26th., February, so it should all be over by then. YEAH!	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-03-01 23:37:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Thanks Kath, have already looked into registering with USCIS so I can keep track. HD suggested signing up for email notifications which I didn't do last time but may this time. I know I can't do it until I have my NOA1, so I just need to be patient. Patricia, All of us aussies that live in snowy areas are the same..........WE LOVE THE WHITE STUFF..........but like Kath's hubby mine finds it quite amusing that I like it......well most of the time. Driving in winter storms isn't much fun and shovelling it isn't that great but it looks so pretty with everything white. Good luck with your continuing wedding dress hunt but I'm sure you will be fine. I second what Kath said about making the most of your time left in oz............It's only been 12 months since my last visit back to Adelaide and it feels like forever! Take care everyone	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-02-29 14:59:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi Kath, Thanks for the info on tracking my I-751......so far no slip back to say they have received it but checked my bank account and they cashed my cheque on the 26th., February, so they must have got it ok. $545 poorer now , oh well. You mentioned signing up for email notifications.....do you need a receipt number for that and do you do it on the USCIS website? Going by removing conditions timeline for vermont filers it should take about 7 months from beginning to end..............I hope.PS. Sent the snowman pics....waiting for yours now Patricia you are right about all the little things you discover when you first arrive here and even after 2 years I still find things here that amaze me. The one thing I will never get used to is tipping! Everything seems bigger in the USA (although not always better). Goodluck with the hunt for your wedding dress but I'm sure you will find something lovely. Bye for now, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-02-28 15:58:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	WELCOME TO AMERICA Patricia and glad to hear you had a safe trip and sounds like a very very busy day of shopping..............that's always great fun. You have lots and lots of new to you stores to shop at and lotsa bargains this time of year. Kath you won't believe this but we got about a foot of nice wet, packy snow and guess what I did.........Yep I too built my first snowman!!!! Will email you a pic soon and we can compare Hope everyone else is doing well. I mailed my I-751 (Removal of conditions on residency) last friday by registered mail and am still waiting for my little green slip to be returned..... . Back in the immigration waiting game but this time it is much, much easier. Take care everyone, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-02-27 22:02:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Pris, So sorry things haven't worked out for you..........it's very sad and I hope you take care of yourself and try to keep smiling. You are right about Kath.......she gives amazing information and support on here and is the reason that this forum remains strong. Way to go Kath and many cheers for you. Patricia, Hope you had a safe trip over here. Hope everyone else is doing well. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-02-25 16:28:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi to Everyone, Kath you beat me to it about the I-865..... LOL. Thanks for that and after having a look at the instructions on the I-865 form this is only applicable if at any stage you have filed an I-864 which from memory is something you do when filing your K-1. I hope I have this right! Anyway I have recovered from my meltdown and decided the best thing to do was include the I-865 Sponsors notice of change of address (inclucing a letter of explanation as to why it wasn't done)with my I-751 Petition to remove conditions on Residency. After a stressful few days I mailed it off to Vermont Service Centre today and have updated my timeline. It was an honest mistake, so hopefully they will understand. I also re did my change of address AR11 on line and got a confirmation number. Hope all this makes sense. Thankfully the visa journey for us is nearly over but those of you starting, in the middle or almost done I hope all goes smoothly for you and is as stress free as possible. Kath it will be your turn to remove conditions soon, so you will be able to check on my timeline and see how things are going with us. bye for now, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-02-23 00:10:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hey Kath, Glad you got some of our snow because it's less for me to shovel! The pics are great and the house looks lovely. I see what you mean about your blue spruce..............they are huge. The snow is beautiful but the shoveling is no fun at all, especially when it gets to be a foot deep. I have a snow-blower on my christmas list! Enjoy the warmth and sunshine all of you that are in Australia. Take care everyone and hope your journeys go smoothly. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2007-12-06 16:57:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hey Kath, It's been SNOWING here since friday!!!!!!!!! About a foot altogether I guess, so if you like maybe I can send some your way.....lol. I think I have cabin fever already and it's not even officialy winter yet! Tracey, Your dress is lovely.....congrats. I posted some info on one of the topics you started. It was regarding removalists & also some info on moving your 4 legged friends here. I know you said that you were leaving them in Australia but thought maybe you might have a change of heart if you knew my dogs story. There is no quarantine at the USA end.....you pick them up straight off the plane. Anyway if you would like any more info just post here and I will get back to you. I am an Adelaide girl too (now living upstate New York). I used Allied Pickfords and found them to be very professional ( I filled a shipping container....which is LOTS! Lotsa money too!) Hi to eveyone else. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2007-12-04 16:10:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Sharyna, I just took a quick look at the california DMV website for you and you may get some of the answers about your drivers license there www.dmv.ca.gov. Check out the FAQ and it explains in there what puts you into the resident category. Every state seems to be different Here in New York state i had to do a written test, eye test, go to a 5 hour pre-licensing course ( with a bunch of teenagers!) and a certain amount of time had to lapse before I was allowed to do the actual driving test. I'm lucky because I live in a very rural area and the traffic is nothinggggg like the big cities, so I passed with flying colors and then wondered why I had been so stressed about the whole thing. Just drive here in the USA as much as you can to get lots of practice and when your not driving watch everyone else & take note of road signs and you will be fine. I think the thing I still find strange is being allowed to do right hand turns through red lights ( after you have stopped of course!) , it still kinda freaks me out. Hope you find the answers you need and goodluck! Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2007-08-10 15:03:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi Kath, Glad to hear you eventually got home safely but very sorry you had to go through such a rotten experience. Wanted to wish you all the luck in the world for your driving test and will have everything x'd for ya. I will be thinking of you......same time frame for us.......wish you weren't so far away! Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2007-08-10 14:50:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi everyone, WOWWWWWWWWW! I've finally caught up with all the news on here after being away for a month. David I can only imagine how you are feeling........what a lousy thing to happen. I was stunned. Keep your spirits up as hard as it must be and things can only get better. Goodluck with everything. Lyndel, All the best with your interview but you will be fine. It is the most amazing feeling when you get through the interview and out of the building and all those butterflies (or elephants will be gone)! Hi Kath, Sorry to see the test didn't go so well and that you have been sick. I had a wonderful time with my sons while they were here but buckets of tears when they went. I have been here a year on the 3rd Feb and think it's nearly time for a visit back to Adelaide to see the rest of my family and friends. Lotsa snow here too and temps as low as -20C......mind you we are about 2 feet short of snow this year which is a good thing........shovelling the driveway in those temps is no fun. Hope everyone else is doing well in their journeys & welcome to all the newcomers. Bye for now, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2007-01-31 15:40:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	David sorry to hear about the RFE.......hopefully the wait won't be too much longer for you.....fingersx'd for ya. Hope everyone had a great xmas......unfortunately I came down with the flu but am feeling a lot better than I did. My boys are now inflight and heading for New York city and we will be picking them up friday night Makes me smile thinking about it! Kath goodluck on the 9th., but I'm sure you will be just fine.No snow here either...... Everytime we get snow the dam sun comes out and melts it next day! Usually at this time of year we have at least a foot on the ground. Oh well.....less to shovel I guess. We are headed to Vegas & Florida for 10days so Happy New Year to all of you in the USA & in Oz and hopefully there will be good news posted here by the time I get back. bye for now, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-12-28 20:06:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	David hope you don't have too much more waiting to do but I'm sure you will hear soon. Just wondered if Stephanie has had any luck with finding someone to ship her things? No snow here either Kath which is very very unusual but I guess there is always next year. I think all of us over here will miss our families at Christmas...........I think most of all I will miss my little grandson. My 2 youngest boys arrive here on the 29th December and I am literally counting down the hours! Goodluck with the job application.........fingers x'd for ya. To all of you back in Oz and still waiting......HANG IN THERE.......it's tough being apart but it WILL happen and you will be together before you know it. Have a safe and happy christmas, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-12-21 17:29:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	OOPS..........I see someone has already given you this info Lyndel.......sorry	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-12-18 16:17:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hey David, Did you know that the kangaroos in Canberra are a pest. I know they are beautiful and all but there are so many here and because of the drought they come down into the city looking for water and they get on the roads everywhere and end up being hit by cars. Very sad but true. We even have one that sleeps on the front lawn at my work.....seriously. Dear other Aussies, On a lighter note....if and when (if ever) I am approved I have to go to JFK cause I need the EAD stamp. My SO's mum is sick and we need me to be working in case of travel costs. Can anyone recommend the best way to do it from Sydney. If i fly direct I have to stop in LA so that becomes the POE, same with Honolulu and Vancouver. I am thinking maybe I will have to fly to London first and then across the Atlantic to NY. Maybe Tokyo?? Thanks Lyndel Hi Lyndel, You can fly Air Tahiti Nui from Sydney and they fly via Papeete to JFK. My 2 boys are flying with them in just over a week. The airfare with them is quite good but they only fly maybe 2 or 3 times a week to New York from Sydney. Hope this helps you and maybe you can call a travel agent for details or check the air tahiti nui website Bye for now, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-12-18 16:11:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Q about the federal income tax return for I-864 -- is the W2 the same thing as the tax return? Eric said he has the W2. David - great pics!! Makes me wanna visit Melbourne again and do the ocean drive this time. What a cutie bubs Mia is! Hi Elle, We only sent W2's and didn't get any requests for further information so I would assume that they are ok. Also we sent in a bunch of payslips and it satisfied there requirements. Maybe others have had a different experience but that was ours. Hope this helps. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-12-13 18:15:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	David, Allied Pickfords are situated at Regency Park which is north of Adelaide and not that far from Port Adelaide. I lived in the Adelaide Hills and it didn't make any difference that they were way across town. They do have a website too which is as follows www.alliedpickfords.com.au . They figure it all out by the cubic footage and not weight. More pictures to remind us of home........they are great! Kath, Certainly is a wonderful thing aussie mateship	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-12-12 21:31:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	David your pictures are GREAT! I am an Adelaide girl and it made me very homesick looking at them but put a smile on my face too.........thanku. My husband loved Cleland but thankfully it wasn't 40c when we were there! I used Allied Pickfords to ship my things. It was extremely expensive because I had some furniture shipped too but they are very good. I have a friend in Adelaide that deals with shipping companies I will email her and see if she can make some suggestions.........it's been 10 months since I organised mine so I don't remember who else she suggested to us. Take care everyone. SUSAN	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-12-12 16:54:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi ausqueen, You MUST have the police certificate with finger-prints.........no doubt about that. Has anyone heard how David went with the sydney walk-in.....or am I missing something? Take care everyone and just in case I don't get another chance I'll wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY 2007. Caroline I hope you have a wonderful trip. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-12-09 15:26:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	I am almost certain that your police certificate is good for 6 months from when you get it done but give the Adelaide Police station a call and they maybe able to tell you for sure. I had a few problems getting my certificate....... would you believe it they lost my first lot of fingerprints....but having said that they were very helpful with any questions I had. Goodluck, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-11-23 15:05:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi Elle, Your question about cheap airfares from the states..........try kayak.com.....they search lots of different sites and come up with some good prices. January isn't a cheap time to travel. Air New Zealand have some pretty good deals too but the flights seem to be a bit longer. goodluck, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-11-16 21:00:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Congratualtions Lunamel!!!!!!!!!!! Kath is right about people visiting! I tried to fit it all my goodbyes into one day and was physically and enotionally exhausted at the end of it. Hey don't forget to bring the vegemite! Take care and have a safe trip, Susan either my spelling or my typing suck, excuse the silly mistakes	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-11-02 16:24:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Belated congrats Kath............a long awaited rest from the process for a while now......what a nice feeling! HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-10-31 17:13:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi Priscilla, Yes the pennytalk card is good for mobiles too at a rate of 27 cents a minute though and so far I haven't had any luck calling a mobile in australia. Like Kath said I seem to get a busy kind of signal. I still have an australian phone card with credit (Gotalk) to call my grandson but it costs a small fortune but thankfully he is only coming up 3 years old, so the conversations are short, LOL. Oh by the way I did my driving test this afternoon and I PASSED Lunamel we are between Lowville NY and Watertown NY, right on the edge of the Adirondack Park. Beautiful place but yes lots of snow! I spent 6 months here before we were married which was a whole winter so I pretty know what to expect. Friday when we had the snow storm was the first time my dog ( brought her here from OZ) had seen snow and she was quite entertaining. Thats about it from me for now, SUSAN	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-10-23 13:40:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Thanks for the congrats Kath. I'm not working at the moment and don't plan to until sometime next year.I have 2 of my son's coming to visit just after xmas for 4 weeks so wanted to make sure I could spend every minute with them. I am sitting for my NY state drivers license on monday and will be happy when that's over with. I just hope it doesn't snow all day like it has today but then again I better get used to it huh! Good to hear everyone has been able to find cheap calling to Australia. Bye for now, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-10-20 20:43:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi everyone, I don't post here very often at all but find myself always having a look just to see how all the aussies are doing and seems like for most it's been smooth sailing. I certainly relate to the discussion about being homesick but the phone is a wonderful thing! Just thought I would let everyone know about a great calling card which is only 2 cents a minute to OZ ( if you don't already know). The website is www.pennytalk.com and as I said before the rates are very good. I am in upstate New York and so far I haven't found any australians in the area, so if anybody out there is close by just yell. I'm originally from the Adelaide Hills. That's about it from me......goodluck to everyone. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-10-20 15:23:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi Everyone, I haven't posted here for a long time but noticed that a few of you are about to have medicals etc., I wanted to let you all know that when you get you get your medical results back from the surgeon be sure to make a copy of your vaccination status. When you are through with the K1 process, married to the loves of your lives and want to do your ' Adjustment of Status' they require you to submit what they call a supplement form to I-693. I found out the hard way! Luckily i had kept all my Immunology reports and an immunisation summary my doctor had printed for me in Adelaide but I ended up having to pay $75USD to a civil surgeon here in the USA just to transfer it all to the correct piece of paper. I hope that all made sense and I haven't confused anyone but thought it might be nice if you all knew ahead of time. Goodluck to all of you. We have been very, very lucky with how quickly the process has been for us and without this wonderful website and the people on it I am sure it would have been a lot more difficult. I arrived here on the 3rd., February 2006, we were married on the 12th., the AOS was submitted in March and we had our interview for AOS last thursday 4th., May in Buffalo NY (over 4 hours drive for us!) but all worth it because I have now been approved as a permanent resident of the USA!!!!!!!!! No more immigration for us to deal with for 2 years now. I hope all goes as well for all you other aussies out there. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, just try to stay positive and keep smiling. GOODLUCK from Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2006-05-11 17:44:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Name Change	QUOTE (kaffy @ Jun 1 2009, 03:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Susan, I don't know what the rules in SA are like but in QLD they refuse to accept an overseas (outside of Australia) marriage certificate as a valid evidence for (free) name change and instead I'd have to lodge an official name change application and pay the fee. My situation was complicated further by the fact that I was not born in Australia and so I had to resume residency there for 12 months before submitting my application (soo stupid that they would not consider my past 11+ years of residency). Anyway I moved to the US exactly one day before my 12 months was up so I was kind of screwed. Luckily I found out from the Aussie Embassy in Washington D.C. a few months ago that I could use my overseas marriage certificate to change my name on my citizenship certificate first, then use that to update the name on my passport using the PC8 form. The name change for the citizenship certificate is $AU55 which actually works out cheaper than the BDM fee of $AU130. I'm going do to it in a couple of months once my husband's Aussie spousal visa second-stage-processing (similar to CR1->IR1 removal of conditions) is complete and can post my reviews later if you like. Yes you are correct Kaffy.......I didn't explain myself very well. You are required to do an official change of name through births/deaths & marriages in your home state. I still haven't done the change of name but will probably do it before my current passport expires and I need to renew it.	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-06-01 21:05:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Name Change	Hi there, We have been married for over 3 years now and I am yet to change my name in Australia. I come from Adelaide and I was told that even though Australia recognise the marriage they do not reg. the new surname. That being said all you have to do is fill out the required forms (should be able to find them online under births/deaths/marriages) with the required fee. You will not be able to change your passport until this is complete but if you make contact with the Australian consulate in your state (USA that is) they will be able to send you info on how to go about gettign a passport in your married name. This is only my personal opinion but I would wait until you are done with AOS. Hope this helps Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-06-01 13:59:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	address	Download the instructions for I-751 from the USCIS website and you will find the correct address to send your application to. A padded bag is fine.....I mailed mine on the 22nd., February 08 to Vermont and received my NOA1 on 1st., March....receipt dat was 26th., Feb.	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-03-03 15:13:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	My Packet	Don't forget a copy of your green card front and back. I did a cover letter and I also attached sticky post-its on the first page (bottom) of each section of paperwork (using different colours) and wrote on them too eg., tax returns, insurance etc.,. Just an idea.....hope it helps.	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-02-29 15:19:00